From time to time, we've all let our excuses get the best of us. Willpower can only last so long, and sometimes, the craziness of this thing called LIFE simply wins against our desires to eat right or exercise. If you're reading this, maybe you've let an excuse or two get in the way of your healthy lifestyle goals recently. If you're ready for your goals and dreams to take priority and win against even your toughest excuses, look no further. I've heard every excuse for not making health a priority. In fact, I've used many of them myself over the years! But more often than not, I talk back to my excuses—and win. The next time a "but" gets in the way of your goals, change your thoughts to one of these NEW phrases to regain control and stay on track. I want to exercise, BUT I can't afford a gym membership. I want to exercise, SO I'll come up with a list of free and low-cost workout options like:
I want to run, BUT it's too [cold, rainy, hot, snowy, windy] outside. I want to run, SO I'll plan my runs around the days and times with the best weather, and invest in a few pieces of running gear that make running more comfortable. If all else fails, I'll come up with an alternative workout I can do indoors, whether running on the treadmill or something else. I want to work out, BUT I have [bad knees, a bad back, an injury, chronic pain]. I want to work out, SO I'll make an appointment with my doctor and/or physical therapist to find out exactly what I can do safely and without pain. I know I should exercise, BUT I don't know how to get started. I know I should exercise, SO I'll do everything in my power to educate myself on what to do and how to get started, beginning with:
I want to get fit, SO I will accept that my goal involves exercising. I will do my best to keep trying new workout ideas until I find something that I do enjoy! I do want to work out, BUT I am just too busy. I do want to work out, SO I will make it a priority while cutting back on other things that aren't as important to me. I will find 10-minute chunks of time that I can dedicate to exercise each day. I want to exercise, BUT I don't have anyone to watch the kids. I want to exercise, SO I will find ways to include my kids in my efforts to work my workouts around times that they are napping, at school, occupied and entertained. I want to eat healthier, BUT it's too complicated. I want to eat healthier, SO I will start with one small step at a time, such as:
I want to eat healthier, SO I will purchase foods that fit within my budget and help my reach my goals, even if it's only a few things in my cart. I'll also actively research ways to save money on healthy foods and reallocate money I used to spend on junk foods toward healthier items. I want to eat better, BUT I hate to cook. I want to eat better, SO I'll find ways to do that that involve little to no cooking, including:
I want to eat healthier, SO I will focus on eating more of the healthy foods I DO like, and keep trying vegetables in new ways until I find preparation techniques I do like. I want to eat better, BUT my family won't eat healthier foods. I want to eat better, SO I'll get my family on board by including them in finding and planning meals that meet everyone's goals. I want to cook more, BUT I just don't have time. I want to cook more, SO I will cut back in other areas (like TV watching) that don't serve my goal, and collect quick-cooking recipes that I can make with limited time. I want to lose weight, BUT it's so overwhelming. I want to lose weight, SO I'll take it one step at a time instead of overwhelming myself by changing every habit at once. I will also stop beating myself up for not doing everything perfectly all the time, and start celebrating the good choices I do make each day. I want to lose weight, BUT I don't have support from anyone in my life. I want to lose weight, SO I will remember that I'm doing it for ME and not for others. I will tell at least one person about my goals whom I can trust, and if I can't find support from friends and family, I will become active in SparkPeople's Community to make friends and get support from people who have similar goals! Next time a "but" tries to get in the way of your goals, turn it around like the examples above and you won't let your excuses win! Which "but" buster is your favorite? How have you busted one of your own excuses recently? |
More From SparkPeople
|
.png)
.jpg)
